Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a filling element for filling bottles with a liquid beverage and a filling machine having such a filling element

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a filling element for filling bottles with a liquid beverage and a filling machine having such a filling element.

1. A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising:
 a beverage bottle cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean beverage bottles; 
 a feed arrangement to supply beverage bottles to said beverage bottle cleaning machine; 
 a rotary beverage filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; 
 said beverage filling machine comprising a rotor having a central vertical axis about which said rotor is rotated; 
 said beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material disposed on the periphery of said rotor; 
 at least one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of liquid beverage material; 
 at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said beverage filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage filling machine; 
 a first conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles from said beverage bottle cleaning machine into said beverage filling machine; 
 said first conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; 
 a beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles; 
 a second conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles from said beverage filling machine into said beverage bottle closing machine; 
 said second conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; 
 a beverage bottle labeling machine being configured and disposed to label filled, closed beverage bottles; 
 a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle closing machine into said beverage bottle labeling machine; 
 said third conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; 
 a beverage bottle packing station being configured and disposed to package labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles; 
 a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle labeling machine to said beverage bottle packing station; 
 said fourth conveyer arrangement comprising a linear conveyor structure being configured and disposed to arrange beverage bottles in groups for packing; 
 said beverage filling machine comprising a reservoir being configured and disposed to contain a supply of liquid beverage material; 
 each of said beverage filling elements being configured and disposed to control dispensing of liquid beverage material from said reservoir into bottles; and 
 each of said beverage filling elements comprising:
 a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit flow of liquid beverage material from said reservoir into bottles; 
 a first housing structure being configured and disposed to form a first portion of said liquid duct, said first portion being connected to said reservoir; 
 a second housing structure being configured and disposed to form a second portion of said liquid duct; 
 said second housing structure comprising a dispensing opening; 
 a liquid valve comprising a valve body being disposed in said second portion of said liquid duct; 
 said second housing structure comprising a valve seat disposed adjacent said valve body; 
 said liquid valve comprising an actuator element being connected to said valve body; 
 said actuator element being configured and disposed to axially move said valve body into and out of sealing engagement with said valve seat to close and open said liquid valve to control flow of liquid beverage out of said dispensing opening; 
 a flow meter being configured and disposed to monitor flow of liquid beverage material in said liquid duct; 
 said liquid valve being operatively connected to said flow meter and being configured to be opened or closed according to the flow of liquid beverage material detected by said flow meter; 
 a third housing structure being configured and disposed to form a third portion of said liquid duct; 
 said third housing structure being disposed between and to connect said first housing structure and said second housing structure; and 
 said flow meter comprising a measuring unit being integrated in said third housing structure. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of said beverage filling elements comprises a tappet disposed to extend through said third housing structure of said liquid duct; and 
 said valve body is operatively connected to said actuator element by said tappet to permit opening and closing of said liquid valve. 
 
   
   
     3. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said reservoir comprises a bowl; 
 said filling element is configured to be fastened to an underside of said bowl; and 
 said tappet is disposed to extend through the interior of said bowl. 
 
   
   
     4. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 3 , wherein said actuator element comprises a pneumatic actuator element. 
   
   
     5. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 4 , wherein said tappet comprises an actuator rod. 
   
   
     6. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 5 , wherein said liquid duct and said tappet each have a constant or essentially constant inside and/or outside diameter at least in said third housing structure. 
   
   
     7. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said tappet is made of an electrically non-conducting material comprising at least one of: glass, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic, and ceramic, at least on its partial length that runs through said third housing structure; and 
 said liquid duct is disposed to run essentially in a straight line between said first portion and said second portion thereof equi-axially with the axis of said tappet. 
 
   
   
     8. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 4 , wherein said tappet comprises a return gas tube which is a component of at least one gas path that comprises at least one control valve. 
   
   
     9. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 8 , wherein said liquid duct and said tappet each have a constant or essentially constant inside and/or outside diameter at least in said third housing structure. 
   
   
     10. The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said tappet is made of an electrically non-conducting material comprising at least one of: glass, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic, and ceramic, at least on its partial length that runs through said third housing structure; and 
 said liquid duct is disposed to run essentially in a straight line between said first portion and said second portion thereof equi-axially with the axis of said tappet. 
 
   
   
     11. A rotary beverage filling machine for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material in a beverage bottling plant, said beverage filling machine comprising:
 a rotor having a central vertical axis about which said rotor is rotated;
 a plurality of beverage filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material disposed on the periphery of said rotor; 
 a reservoir being configured and disposed to contain a supply of liquid beverage material; 
 each of said beverage filling elements being configured and disposed to control dispensing of liquid beverage material from said reservoir into bottles; and 
 each of said beverage filling elements comprising:
 a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit flow of liquid beverage material from said reservoir into bottles; 
 a first housing structure being configured and disposed to form a first portion of said liquid duct, said first portion being connected to said reservoir; 
 a second housing structure being configured and disposed to form a second portion of said liquid duct; 
 said second housing structure comprising a dispensing opening; 
 a liquid valve comprising a valve body being disposed in said second portion of said liquid duct; 
 said second housing structure comprising a valve seat disposed adjacent said valve body; 
 said liquid valve comprising an actuator element being connected to said valve body; 
 said actuator element being configured and disposed to axially move said valve body into and out of sealing engagement with said valve seat to close and open said liquid valve to control flow of liquid beverage out of said dispensing opening; 
 a flow meter being configured and disposed to monitor flow of liquid beverage material in said liquid duct; 
 said liquid valve being operatively connected to said flow meter and being configured to be opened or closed according to the flow of liquid beverage material detected by said flow meter; 
 a third housing structure being configured and disposed to form a third portion of said liquid duct; 
 said third housing structure being disposed between and to connect said first housing structure and said second housing structure; and 
 said flow meter comprising a sensing unit being integrated in said third housing structure. 
 
 
 
   
   
     12. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 each of said beverage filling elements comprises a tappet disposed to extend through said third housing structure of said liquid duct; and 
 said valve body is operatively connected to said actuator element by said tappet to permit opening and closing of said liquid valve. 
 
   
   
     13. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said reservoir comprises a bowl; 
 said filling element is configured to be fastened to an underside of said bowl; and 
 said tappet is disposed to extend through the interior of said bowl. 
 
   
   
     14. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 13 , wherein said actuator element comprises a pneumatic actuator element. 
   
   
     15. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said tappet comprises an actuator rod. 
   
   
     16. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 15 , wherein said liquid duct and said tappet each have a constant or essentially constant inside and/or outside diameter at least in said third housing structure. 
   
   
     17. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said tappet is made of an electrically non-conducting material comprising at least one of: glass, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic, and ceramic, at least on its partial length that runs through said third housing structure; and 
 said liquid duct is disposed to run essentially in a straight line between said first portion and said second portion thereof equi-axially with the axis of said tappet. 
 
   
   
     18. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said tappet comprises a return gas tube which is a component of at least one gas path that comprises at least one control valve. 
   
   
     19. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 18 , wherein said liquid duct and said tappet each have a constant or essentially constant inside and/or outside diameter at least in said third housing structure. 
   
   
     20. The rotary beverage filling machine according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said tappet is made of an electrically non-conducting material comprising at least one of: glass, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic, and ceramic, at least on its partial length that runs through said third housing structure; and 
 said liquid duct is disposed to run essentially in a straight line between said first portion and said second portion thereof equi-axially with the axis of said tappet.